All eyes will be on Western Sydney Wanderers this weekend as they seek to maintain momentum from their stunning win over competition powerhouse Brisbane Roar when Newcastle Jets make the trip south.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Newcastle Jets
Sunday 19 October 2014
Marconi Stadium, Sydney
Local kick-off: 3pm
Join the conversation on Twitter using match hashtag #WSWvNEW
The youthful Wanderers caused one of the great upsets of Westfield W-League history when their largely teenage side somehow bounced back from a club-record 10-1 defeat to see off a high-powered Brisbane side in their own backyard.
The Wanderers’ youngsters will be filled with confidence by that result which is bad news for the Jets, who a fortnight ago may have been expecting an easy ride from this fixture.
Unsurprisingly Wanderers boss Norm Boardman has rewarded his players by naming an unchanged squad for this contest at Marconi Stadium.
Newcastle is the only club against whom the Wanderers boast a perfect record, so there is a measure of added incentive for the home side.
However, the Jets have proven themselves to be worthy semi-final contenders with a string of impressive performances with the team seemingly growing in confidence with each passing week.
Rarely has that been better illustrated than in a 4-0 away win against Adelaide a fortnight ago. A hard-fought 1-0 home defeat against second-placed Sydney FC last weekend highlighted the Jets’ new-found status, despite not collecting any points.
Newcastle, like Perth Glory, have benefitted by rarely changing their line-up this season – the unfortunate injury to midfielder Ashley Spina aside.
The Jets will be anxious to go home with three points to ensure they stay in touch with the top-four, and an entertaining contest seems assured.
Western Sydney Wanderers squad: 1. Trudy Burke (gk), 2. Caitlin Cooper, 3. Jessica Seaman, 5. Helen Petinos, 6. Rachael Soutar, 7. Kendall Johnson. 8. Grace Henry, 9. Keelin Winters, 10. Michelle Carney, 12. Hannah Beard, 13. Jordan Baker, 14. Demi Koulizakis, 15. Rhianna Pollicina, 16. Linda O’Neill, 20. Sham Khamis (gk)
Ins: none
Outs: none
Unavailable: none
Newcastle Jets squad: 1. Hannah Southwell, 2. Georgia Yeoman-Dale, 3. Hayley Crawford, 5. Katherine Reynolds, 6. Angela Salem, 7. Tori Huster, 8. Amber Neilson, 9. Tara Andrews, 10. Emily van Egmond, 11. Rhali Dobson, 16. Cassidy Davis, 17. Grace McIntyre, 18. Clare Wheeler, 20. Claire Coelho (GK), 24. Brooke Miller
Ins: Grace Macintyre, Clare Wheeler (both promoted)
Outs: Sophie Nenadovic, Libby Copus-Brown (both omitted)
Unavailable: Ashley Spina (knee – season)
